Predators hang on in final seconds, win opener at UCF

Orlando Predators beat Jacksonville Sharks 49-47 in their first home game at UCF's CFE Arena

March 16, 2014|By Alicia DelGallo, Orlando Sentinel

The Orlando Predators pressured Jacksonville Sharks QB R.J. Archer into an incompletion on a potentially tying 2-point conversion with one second left, preserving their 49-47 season-opening victory Sunday.

In the Arena Football League team's first home game at UCF's CFE Arena, the Preds prevailed behind four touchdown passes and two scoring runs from QB Jason Boltus.

The victory ended a seven-game losing streak against the Sharks, whom the Preds had not defeated since a playoff game in 2010.

"It was probably one of the biggest games of the Orlando Predators' life," said Rob Keefe, the team's first-year coach. "It says a lot of not only where we're going, but it puts a lot of this history the past couple of years in the past.

"We want those W's to keep coming."

The Preds, coming off consecutive losing seasons, never trailed before an announced crowd of 3,475 people, including many Jacksonville fans.

Boltus ran 7 yards and flipped over a Sharks defender for a touchdown with less than two minutes to go, giving the Preds a 49-41 lead. Jared McGriff-Culver's 1-yard scoring run gave Jacksonville a chance to force overtime.

On the 2-point try, the Preds pressured Archer, who released the ball just before being tackled. The pass into the right corner of the end zone was low and deflected off the receiver's hands.

"We knew that 2-point conversion was going to come, and we were prepared for it," Keefe said. "I'm nervous. I'm anxious. I'm petrified, but I'll never let anybody see that. You just have faith in your defense. This is what we practice for."

The Sharks intercepted a pass from Boltus in the end zone early in the fourth quarter. Sharks wide receiver London Crawford caught a 45-yard touchdown pass on the next snap, narrowing the Predators' lead to 35-34.

The extra point was no good.

"They have a lot of veterans on that team," said Boltus, who completed 17 of 33 passes for 176 yards and ran for 46 more. "They know the game is never over. They're hanging back. They know they're still in it. No one's quitting."

Including the Preds' Arness Ikner, who returned the ensuing kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown.

Braylon Bell caught four passes for 44 yards and two scores for Orlando. Khalil Paden, who led the Preds with 79 receiving yards, and Kendal Thompkins caught the other scoring passes from Boltus.

Wide receiver T.T. Toliver did not play.

Archer completed 27 of 39 passes for 265 yards and five touchdowns for the Sharks.

The Preds, who previously had played their home games at Amway Center before moving because of a lease disagreement, will host the Los Angeles KISS at 7:30 Friday night.

"I like it in here," Orlando defensive back Tanner Varner said of UCF's arena. "It's a lot smaller, so everybody's more on top of you. It was loud in there. It gets hot in there so teams aren't going to be used to that, either, and they're going to be huffin' and puffin'.